Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV18302’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘RIKAV18302’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large dark violet-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and relative tolerance to powdery mildew.

Botanical designation: Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RIKAV18302’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘RIKAV18302’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall,Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorousand freely-branching Verbena plants with numerous flowers and toleranceto powdery mildew.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 5, 2010 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietaryseedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number09V852-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Verbenahybrida ‘USBENAL8’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,853, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jun. 9, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 10, 2011 has shownthat the unique features of this new Verbena plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘RIKAV18302’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘RIKAV18302’ as a new and distinct Verbenaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large dark violet-colored flowers that are held above and        beyond the foliar plane.    -   7. Relatively tolerant to powdery mildew.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘USBENAL8’. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of‘USBENAL8’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena have larger leaves than plants of        ‘USBENAL8’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘USBENAL8’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘USBENAL8’ have violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘AKIV572-1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,050. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newVerbena differed primarily from plants of ‘AKIV572-1’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were more vigorous than plants of        ‘AKIV572-1’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena had larger flowers and        inflorescences than plants of ‘AKIV572-1’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘AKIV572-1’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘AKIV572-1’ have light violet-colored        flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can also be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Verbena differedprimarily from plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena had larger flowers and than plants        of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena were more tolerant to powdery        mildew than plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Verbena plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV18302’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘RIKAV18302’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late autumn in 11.4-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C.to 38° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels rangedfrom 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time atplanting and were two months old when the photographs and descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘RIKAV18302’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Verbena hybrida identified as code number 09V852-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Verbena hybrida ‘USBENAL8’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,853.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about            eight primary lateral branches developing per plant each            with numerous secondary branches; pinching enhances lateral            branch development; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 46 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 26 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading and            decumbent.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent; minute.        -   Color.—Close to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Nearly deltoid to ovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Broadly crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; coarse,            hirsute.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147A; venation, close to 148C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers            arranged in flattened hemispherical terminal racemes;            flowers face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit            with about 28 flowers developing per inflorescence and            typically more than 1,300 flowers per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring through the autumn in southern California; early            flowering habit, plants begin flowering about five weeks            after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to N88C to N88D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.1 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Tube diameter, proximal.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals            fused towards the base into a narrow tube. Petal lobe            length: About 1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 8 mm. Petal lobe            shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate to            cordate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color:            Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N88A. Petal,            when opening, lower surface: Close to 90C. Petal, fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 86A; color becoming closer            to 86C with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 86D; color becoming closer to N88C with            development. Throat, inner surface: Close to 85C to 85D,            almost white in appearance; distally, small ring, close to            85B. Tube, outer surface: Close to 86D.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused            towards the base into a slender tube. Sepal length: About            1.5 cm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly            lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal texture,            outer surface: Pubescent; minute. Sepal color, upper            surface: Close to 148B to 148C. Sepal color, lower surface:            Close to 147B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four            per flower, filaments are adnate to corolla tube. Filament            length, free section: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to            145C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther            color: Close to 151 C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 150D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded, bi-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 146C. Style length: About 1.8 cm.            Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.            Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Verbena.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been    observed to be relatively tolerant to powdery mildew. Plants of the    new Verbena have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Verbena plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV18302’ asillustrated and described.